Budget: Mayor cautiously optimistic

CASTANET Wayne Moore - Jan 26, 2009 News

the federal government plans to announce $7 billion in infrastructure spending as part of Tuesday's budget is welcome news to Kelowna's mayor. Earlier this month, the City of Kelowna presented a 'wish list' of capital projects to MP Ron Cannan, after the feds indicated infrastructure spending was one way to stimulate the economy. "I look forward to hearing the details. We recognize there will be a one-third, one-third, one-third funding split between provincial, federal and municipal funding," says Sharon Shepherd. "When we put forward our projects, we took into account all of those things, so we are ready to go."

According to the federal Conservatives, the projects would have to be ready to go right away.
The projects proposed by the City of Kelowna in order of priority, include:

• $8.8 million to construct multi-use pathways
  
• $3.4 million to upgrade the Laurel Packinghouse
  
• $11 million to build the Glenmore Road Bypass
  
• $24 million to four-lane Highway 33 between Muir and Gallagher roads
  
• $12.5 million to construct a four-lane bridge over Mission Creek on Gordon Drive
  
• $11 million to bring sanitary sewer to Hall Road.
  

Shepherd says only the Hall Road sewer project is not ready to proceed. She says more public consultation is required before that project is ready to go. The proposed infrastructure funding is to include $4 billion for provincial and municipal infrastructure, $2 billion for universities and colleges and $1 billion for green projects. "We don't know what the criteria will be. There's also a mention of building green funds. Some of them may be able to apply for those funds as well." In making the announcement Monday, Transportation Minister, John Baird, indicated the funds would be used for roads, bridges, water systems, sewer systems and transit. Details will be unveiled during Tuesday's Federal Budget, scheduled to be released at 1 p.m. Pacific Time Tuesday.